Prevention is the New Cure

Former Chancellor and longest-serving Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt joins Steve Brine and James Bethell.

In this episode, Jeremy Hunt breaks down the harsh economic realities facing the NHS, why throwing more money at healthcare won't fix it, and what a future Conservative health strategy must look like under Shadow Health Secretary Damian Hinds. The trio dives into structural reforms, realigning local financial incentives, shifting focus from acute hospital care to prevention, and using AI and single patient electronic records to drive productivity.

Key Topics Covered:

The Fiscal Envelope: Why Labour...

Steve Brine and James Bethell are back, as politics returns to business as usual!

In today's episode, they break down the fiscal reality facing the new government, why OpenAI’s integration with Epic Systems is a watershed moment for health data, and whether high-street cholesterol checks in pharmacies are a game-changer or just a drop in the ocean.

They also tackle the skyrocketing costs of ADHD diagnoses, £343M of mental health funding, and Steve asks James whether he'd rather do exercise or have a nap.

Oh and the guys reveal wha...

Is the UK health service moving fast enough on prevention, clinical trials, and AI?

In this summer special episode, James sits down with Professor Lucy Chappell — Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Together, they dive deep into the future of healthcare research, how to bridge the gap between medical breakthroughs and patient delivery, the real role of AI in grant applications and trial management, and why health prevention must become everyone's responsibility.

Su...

Breast cancer isn't just an older person's disease—1 in 6 diagnoses in the UK occur in women under 49. In this episode, Steve Brine sits down with Sophie Dopierala-Bull, Director of Services at the high-profile breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!.

Together, they discuss the late founder Kris Hallenga's legacy, the critical warning signs young women are often told to ignore, and how AI and personalised risk-stratified screening could revolutionise cancer detection in the NHS.

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• CoppaFeel! Official Website & Check Remi...

In Episode 109 of Prevention is the New Cure, former health ministers James Bethell and Steve Brine dissect Andy Burnham’s first fortnight in office.

They break down his heavy emphasis on social media communication, his plan to reframe social care as economic infrastructure, and the potential risks of cracking down on private care providers.

Plus, they look at how cutting-edge life sciences and adult vaccines are reshaping chronic disease prevention, debunk common summer health myths, and share their top book recommendations for the summer break.

Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at...

On today's episode, Steve Brine and James Bethell discuss new opportunities in population health with vaccines. They are joined by Lisa Sha, General Manager at Sanofi Vaccines UK and Ireland, for a conversation on the UK's approach to vaccination.

Together, they discuss why innovation alone isn't enough to improve population health — and why Government, the NHS, industry and academia must work together to turn scientific ambition into real population health outcomes.

Plus, we dive into the latest political shake-ups in the UK Department of Health, the Prime Minister’s recent social care announcements and...

On today's episode, with James Bethell away, Steve Brine is joined by journalist and author Isabel Hardman (The Spectator) for an in-depth dive into a momentous week in British politics and health policy.

Together, they break down Yvette Cooper’s surprising appointment as Health Secretary, Andy Burnham’s ambitious vision to transform social care, and why the NHS struggles with "learned helplessness" when responding to major public health scandals.

Plus: a look at expanded MenB vaccine access and whether singing on prescription is actually good for your health!

Sponsored by Pulselight. Find...

Is the NHS relying on analogue systems in a digital world?

In Episode 106, former Health Minister Steve Brine and guest co-host Charlotte Refsum (Director of Health Policy at the Tony Blair Institute) discuss the massive gap between NHS prevention ambitions and real-world execution.

From the shockingly low uptake of bowel cancer screening kits in the youngest eligible groups to the government’s brand new £10 billion digital transformation plan, they discuss whether technology can finally solve the NHS productivity crisis. Plus, they break down wearable tech for sepsis monitoring, and the future of community pharmacies.

Is the NHS checking out of preventative care? In Episode 105 of Prevention is the New Cure, former health ministers Lord James Bethell and Steve Brine tackle the shifting landscape of public health, political incentives, and cultural habits across the UK and US.

From declining NHS health checks to the radical new "marathon a month" incentive scheme, they debate whether behavioural nudges actually work—or if they just reward the already healthy. They also dive into the NHS's new TikTok strategy to combat foreign misinformation, celebrate the massive hidden success of opt-out HIV testing in A&E, an...

In Episode 104, former health ministers Lord Bethell and Steve Brine tackle one of the NHS's most urgent crises as they examine a damning review into maternity services in England.

Following Baroness Valerie Amos' report and the latest findings into avoidable failures in maternity care, they ask: Why does the NHS continue to repeat the same mistakes despite hundreds of recommendations? And will appointing a national Maternity Commissioner finally deliver lasting change—or simply create another layer of bureaucracy?

As millions of people begin using AI chatbots for emotional support, Steve and James also di...

In Episode 103, former health ministers Lord Bethell and Steve Brine break down a historic week in UK politics and healthcare.

Following Andy Burnham’s by-election victory and Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation, they ask: Is Burnham on an unstoppable path to becoming the first former Health Secretary turned Prime Minister? Plus, they dissect controversial comments from the Chair of NHS England, Penny Dash, on how AI, smartphones, and robotics will fundamentally replace routine doctor visits.

We also take a look at the newly established "NHS Online" - the UK's first truly national digital hosp...

The social media ban for under-16s is officially here - but can government actually enforce it? 

In Episode 102 of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell dive into Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s landmark announcement. From the technical realities of age verification to the political motivations behind the ban, they break down what this means for parents, tech giants like Meta and TikTok, and the future of public health.

Plus, a massive game-changer in the obesity crisis: the MHRA has app...

Are we witnessing the collapse of the government's 10-year NHS plan, or are we on the brink of a healthcare revolution? 

Live from the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 in Manchester, former health ministers Steve Brine and James Bethel sit down to analyse a seismic period for health and politics. Following the shocking resignation of Wes Streeting and the appointment of James Murray as Secretary of State, we ask: who is steering the ship, and could an Andy Burnham administration be on the horizon?

We also dive into incredible healthcare breakthroughs: the world’s first AI-designed vac...

England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, joins former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell inside the Department of Health for our landmark 100th episode.

Sir Chris breaks down the data behind the prostate cancer screening decision, why 45% of dementia cases can be delayed, the truth about childhood obesity and air pollution.

In this special episode we sit down with the Government’s Chief Medical Officer to tackle the science of uncertainty. From his pivotal role in the Tobacco and Vapes Act to the rise of localised air pollution from wood...

In a week that Tony Blair returned to UK headlines, James Bethell and Steve Brine wonder whether the former Prime Minister is right on healthcare (among other things) and will he have an influence over a potential Labour leadership contest?

This week’s episode also features Professor Adam Fox, Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group, discussing Britain’s growing allergy crisis, anaphylaxis, food labelling, Owen’s Law, and why allergy care urgently needs reform.

You can find out more about the work of the National Allergy Strategy Group - and read their plan...

As candidates emerge ahead of a potential Labour leadership contest James Bethell and Steve Brine consider a tale of two health secretaries vying for the top job. How do Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting stack up when it comes healthcare policy?

Is Burnham’s local, social-determinant approach the future of 21st-century healthcare, or does Streeting’s Blairite, target-driven strategy hold the real key to saving the NHS?

In this episode, we also discuss:

Chaos in Westminster. As rumors of a Labour leadership challenge swirl, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell break down a week of political explosions and landmark policy shifts.

In this episode, we dive into:

James joins from the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills this week and the guys unpack five "states of mind" currently dominating the global health and politics landscape. From China’s surging dominance in biopharma innovation to the sobering reality of the failed resource shift toward prevention, this episode is a wake-up call for Western policy makers.

In this episode, we discuss:

Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell return with a thought-provoking episode - featuring former Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth on his shock stroke at 47, and the unexpected role of Lego in his recovery.

This week, they ask a hard question: If someone who understands the system can miss the warning signs, how are the public meant to spot them?

In this episode:

Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell return for a deep dive into the intersection of health and politics.

This week, they tackle the "Golden Child" of the pandemic, the vaccine rollout, and ask a piercing question: Why can the UK system innovate in a crisis but remain "analogue" for chronic disease?

In this episode:

Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell dive into the "nihilism" of modern health politics. Is the current strategy just about keeping the NHS out of the headlines, or are we actually making the nation healthier?

In this episode:

In episode 92 of THE health and politics podcast: Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell discuss the brand new junk food ban, and how fast food companies and others are ALREADY finding loopholes.

They also chat about:

Later, Steve and James are joined by DJ partners Tina Woods and Yukari, Co-Founders of Longevity Raves.<...

Is the UK's health system upside down? In this episode of 'Prevention is the New Cure,' former Health Minister Lord James Bethell and Tony Blair Institute’s Dr. Charlotte Refsum sit down with Professor Susan Jebb (Chair of the Food Standards Agency) to discuss why the UK is failing to prevent chronic disease.

From the "socialisation of acute care" to the biological reality of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, we dive deep into the policy failures and industrial barriers keeping Britain sick. Professor Jebb explains why "willpower" is a myth in a toxic food environment and why th...

Episode 90 of THE health and politics podcast, comes LIVE from Digital Health Re:wired!

This episode is sponsored by MASTEK; a company with a 25-year history of working with the NHS and has been trusted to deliver significant national IT infrastructure and data projects across the UK Public Sector.

Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell are at the NEC among four thousand digital health leaders with very special guests and all the usual insights into how decisions are made.

They begin with the huge response to last week's...

In Episode 89, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell dive into the urgent headlines shaping British healthcare. From the tragic Meningitis B outbreak in Kent to the "productivity paradox" of AI in hospitals, this episode strips back the politics to look at what actually works.

In this episode, we discuss:

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord James Bethell join from around the world: James from Blackpool and Steve from North Macedonia.

They dive into the looming GP contract ballot and the threat of industrial action, the "quiet war" on air pollution, and the surprising health outcomes of North Macedonia. James shares a personal announcement regarding his future in the House of Lords and his decision to step away from the hereditary peerage to focus on health innovation.

Stay tuned until the end to...

The £200bn Question: Why Isn’t the NHS Getting Healthier?

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell take analyse the status quo of UK health policy. With NHS spending in England projected to reach £217 billion by 2025/26, the debate isn't about if we have the money, but how we are wasting it.

James Bethell argues that the doubling of the NHS budget over the last 17 years has had "zero impact" on the nation's healthy longevity. We dive deep into why the political obsession with "40 New...

Can we "prescribe" our way out of a national health crisis?

In this episode, former Health Ministers James Bethell and Steve Brine are joined by Charlotte Refsum (Head of Health at the Tony Blair Institute) to dissect the week's biggest headlines in health policy.

In this episode:

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell chat to Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund.

Sarah Woolnough argues that health is not made in hospitals — it is shaped by housing, education, environment and regulation. The discussion explores whether the UK needs a fundamental shift away from a “sickness service” towards long-term health investment.

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In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell sit down with Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England, for a wide-ranging and candid discussion about the future of the NHS.

Sir Jim addresses the crisis facing NHS demand, the limits of hospital-centric care, and why prevention, neighbourhood health systems, and disruptive reform are essential if the NHS is to survive the next decade.

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A special episode this week of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure, as Ministers finally publish the National Cancer Plan.

Steve & James talk exclusively to NHS National Clinical Director, Professor Peter Johnson, about the ambition which says 75% of people diagnosed from 2035 will survive long term and meeting the 62-days cancer waiting time standard by the end of this Parliament. In a wide-ranging conversation, they also talk wider cancer prevention, multi-cancer detection tests and the cancer workforce.

And Professor Johnson responds to today's story that testing menstrual blood for signs...

Steve & James return with episode 82 of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure.

This week, to mark Stroke Prevention Day on Thursday, the guys talk to Juliet Bouverie from the Stroke Association about signs, symptoms and red flags.

And they look ahead to the long-awaited National Cancer Plan which is expected to be published next week. What can we expect from the first plan since 2018?

Also on this episode; the WHO confirms the UK has lost its measles elimination status, James speaking at the counter-fraud conference next...

Steve and James return with episode 81 of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure.

They chat just hours after James (Lord Bethell) led the charge on a debate in the House of Lords which saw Peers vote through an amendment which would ban under-16's from social media across the UK.

Also, as nearly a quarter of hospitals in England report waiting times have worsened since the government published its plan to tackle the backlog a year ago, the pair discuss whether Ministers have chosen the right path given A...

The health and politics podcast reaches its 80th episode! Steve and James discuss Kemi Badenoch's social media ban proposal, the high-wire act of negotiating a new GP contract and what Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, meant when he cited GIRFT (get it right first time) at a major conference this week.

Also, this week saw a genuine medical breakthrough as a patient at Manchester Royal Infirmary became the first in the UK to receive a new CAR-T treatment for aggressive blood cancer. The pair discuss what this means.

And James owns up to progress...

For their first episode of 2026, Steve & James pick over the big stories in health and politics this week including the new NHS Online service, junk food advertising ban and the rollout of a new chicken pox vaccine for children.

They also pick up on a huge story concerning Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) after Little Mix star, Jesy Nelson, said her twins had been diagnosed with the rare muscle disease. We talked to Giles Lomax from the charity SMA UK in February 2025 for episode 49.

And we have a great guest to start the year...

After a busy year, which saw Steve team up with Lord James Bethell for chapter three of THE health and politics podcast, it's time for some festive fun as an old friend joins.

Original co-host, Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, dials in from her home in New Zealand to play a special game of snap with a Kiwi twist - Yeh / Yeh-Nah - which looks at the current similarities between the two countries in health and politics. Discussion ranges from health service reorganisation and workforce strife to public health outbreaks.

And Pod Surgery makes a...

The main story in health and politics this week is the gathering flu epidemic and the impact it is already having on the acute sector. Steve and James talk to Dr Adrian Boyle, immediate past President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, to get a view from the front-line.

They also give their reflections on masks in public (disagree on cycle helmets!) and consider the maternity safety story also making the news this week as Baroness Amos releases her initial findings on her National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.

And finally, as it's...

As the increasingly bitter war of words between Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, and the British Medical Association hots up James and Steve discuss who really are the 'moaning minnies' of the NHS.

They also consider the Government's new HIV Action Plan, published earlier this week and the highly significant US/UK deal on future medicines announced on Monday.

The former Ministers also reflect on the initial decision from the National Screening Committee NOT to proceed with a new national screening programme for prostate cancer and agree it's soon all eyes (again) on the...

The health and politics podcast moves into a new chapter as James Bethell joins the team and his first episode is a big one as he and Steve consider Budget 2025.

You can get in touch podcast@stevebrine.com and find our socials via our LinkTree page.

Thanks for listening!

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Sarah calls it a day as she swims away into cold water retirement. The pair discuss the latest strikes by Resident Doctors and some new polling from Future Health Research on what the public think about paying more tax at next week's Budget for the NHS.

And they're joined by Sonia Pombo from Action on Salt & Sugar to discuss what we can learn from the 'sugar tax' and how we can use that to reach a consensus with the food industry and government over the harmful effects of a high salt diet, and bring about a...